Cause: Anorexia, nausea and vomiting due to large abdominal aortic aneurysm

Buried

Oaklawn Memorial Gardens, Fishers, Hamilton County, IN

Notes

(1) Elizabeth Ann Grubb:

NOTES:

Byron GILCHRIST was the younger of two brothers born and raised on the farm of their grandfather, Thomas GILCHRIST, in Fulton County, IN. Thomas had farmed the land owned by his father, an immigrant from SCOTLAND, until about 1902. The original GILCHRIST land was situated on the south bank of the Tippecanoe River in Rochester Township. After the death of Thomas's wife in 1895 and the 1900 birth of Byron's brother, Virgil, Thomas sold the GILCHRIST farm, and purchased new farm land on the north side of the River. This farm was located in a community called South Germany in Richland Township.

This Richland Twp. farm was the birthplace of Byron in January, 1903. During his childhood and early youth, Byron's father, William and his grandfather taught Virgil and Byron the skills of farming and of carpentry. Much of the two-story log house was built by the hands of the four GILCHRIST men. Later a large and up-to-date barn built by this family was an object of great pride and admired by the whole community. This barn was later destroyed by a devastating fire.

"Barney," as Byron was called by some of his friends, was a lively and mischievous young man! A neighbor girl, who would later marry Byron's brother, was often the brunt of Byron's pranks. "Lizzie" O'DELL later told her children of how "ornery Byron" teased and aggravated her as they walked to and from school. She readily admitted that he was not one of her favorite classmates!

His brother told stories of how he could learn of some of Byron's "adventures" as a young man by waiting for Byron to go to sleep in the room they shared, then asking questions about his activities that evening. It seems that Byron had a tendency to talk in his sleep, and would even answer questions...quite honestly! The next morning Virgil would mention some detail of Byron's activities while "out on the town" the evening before, and Byron would be shocked to find that Virgil had knowledge of the event!

Byron was with his mother on the terrible day of her death. His story to compiler was that he had taken water and towels for her to wash herself that morning. He later returned to take the water away to empty it, when suddenly his mother sat up very tall, grabbed her head with both hands, and cried, "OH!" Immediately she fell back and was dead. What a lasting impression that memory must have made in the mind of a 17-year-old son!

Byron, like his older brother, made his living in the construction business. Both men were very skilled in carpentry; both maintained their love of farming. Byron remained in the South Bend area and worked many years for the Christman Construction Company. Upon retiring, he and Emma moved from their home at 412 Woodside in South Bend (a house that Byron had built for his young family) to a farm near Argos, IN in Marshall County. Byron remodeled and improved the existing farm house, a large old home built largely of field stone. This home was destroyed by a fire which began in the middle of the night while Byron and Emma were sleeping. Luckily they were able to escape unharmed.

After losing their house on the farm, the GILCHRISTs had a new home built on State Road 10 outside Argos. They remained there until 1995 when they moved to the American Village Retirement complex near their daughter, Mary, in Indianapolis.

Compiler will remember "Uncle Byron" as a handsome and distinguished-looking man of medium height and strong build, with hair that is almost totally white, as was his brother's. Apparently this is a trait inherited from their mother; her hair was said to have been "snowy white" at the time of her death, at age 40. Compiler can not remember ever seeing either of these men with other than gray-to-white hair.

Byron's eyes are framed in what compiler calls "laugh lines;" he seems to always be on the verge of a smile. Both he and his brother had very pleasant speaking voices, but Virgil's was deeper in pitch than Byron's; both men enjoyed singing, and both participated in quartet singing in their youth. These brothers looked very much alike and used many of the same mannerisms. They both bear strong resemblance to pictures of their father.

REFERENCES:

1. Byron GILCHRIST; 1790 E. 54th St. #225; Indianapolis, IN 46220

2. Emma (PFEIFFER) GILCHRIST, his wife.

3. Compiler's personal knowledge

4. Family tradition and lore handed down to compiler by members of the extended family

(2) A household headed by Byron GILCHRIST is listed in the 1930 census of South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN, at 1718 Fellow Street.

According to the 1930 census, Byron was a carpenter who was then 27 years of age; therefore, according to the 1930 census, he was born in about 1903. According to the 1930 census, he was born in IN, and both of his parents were born in IN.

Listed with Byron is his wife, Emma, who was then 23 years of age; therefore, according to the 1930 census, she was born in about 1907. According to the 1930 census, she was born in IN, and both of her parents were born in IN.

Also listed with Byron is his daughter, Mary Alice, who was then three months old; therefore, according to the 1930 census, she was born in about 1930. According to the 1930 census, she was born in IN, and both of her parents were born in IN.

Also listed with Byron is his father, William, a laborer and widower who was then 60 years of age; therefore, according to the 1930 census, he was born in about 1870. According to the 1930 census, he was born in IN, and both of his parents were born in IN.

(3) A household headed by Bryan GILCHRIST is listed in the 1940 census of South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN. [The compiler believes that "Bryan's" first name was really Byron.] The official enumeration date of this household is April 1, 1940; the actual enumeration date of this household is April 18, 1940.

"Bryan's" household is listed at 412 Woodside.

"Bryan" is listed in the 1940 census as a carpenter who was then 37 years of age; therefore, according to the 1940 census, he was born in about 1903. According to the 1940 census, he was born in IN. According to the 1940 census, his residence as of April 1, 1935 was at the same place as it was as of April 1, 1940.

Listed with "Bryan" is his wife, Emma, who was then 33 years of age; therefore, according to the 1940 census, she was born in about 1907. According to the 1940 census, she was born in IN. According to the 1940 census, her residence as of April 1, 1935 was at the same place as it was as of April 1, 1940.

Also listed with "Bryan" is his daughter, Mary Alice, who was then 10 years of age; therefore, according to the 1940 census, she was born in about 1930. According to the 1940 census, she was born in IN. According to the 1940 census, her residence as of April 1, 1935 was at the same place as it was as of April 1, 1940.

Also listed with "Bryan" is his daughter, Janet, who was then 1 year of age; therefore, according to the 1940 census, she was born in about 1939. According to the 1940 census, she was born in IN.

(4) Obituary that appeared on p. D4 of the January 8, 1998 issue of The Indianapolis Star:

BYRON B. GILCHRIST, 94, Indianapolis, formerly of Argos and South Bend, died Jan. 7. He retired from farming in 1976. Mr. Gilchrist also was a construction superintendent for Charles Aulm & Co., retiring in 1965. He was a member of Plymouth (Ind.) First Presbyterian Church and Carpenters Union Local 413. Services: 11 a.m. Jan. 10 in Flanner & Buchanan Broad Ripple Mortuary, with calling from 10:30 a.m. Burial: Oaklawn Memorial Gardens, Fishers. He was the widower of Emma Pfeiffer Gilchrist. Survivors: daughters Janet A. Frost, Dr. Mary A. Gilchrist: two granddaughters.

Byron B. GILCHRIST, 94, Indianapolis, formerly from South Bend, Argos and Rochester areas, died Wednesday at Forum at the Crossing., Indianapolis.

Born in Rochester to William and Artemica MOW GILCHRIST, he married Emma PFEIFFER in 1928 in South Bend.

Gilchrist was a retired Superfritendant for Charles Aulm and Company (construction) and also a retired farmer. He was the oldest surviving member of the Carpenters Union Local 413, South Bend. He was also a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Plymouth.

The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the
paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me; thy rod and
thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the
presence of mine enemies:
thou annointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow
me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

[Note by compiler: This cemetery has a post-office address of 9700 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis, Marion County, IN 46250, but it is physically located immediately north of Marion County in Hamilton County, IN.]